A long-established newsagent in Easingwold has been sold after six decades of continuous family ownership, marking a notable transition in the town’s independent retail landscape. Towlers Ltd, run by the Rushton family since the early 1960s, was the final store in a sequence of traditional shops the family has sold across North Yorkshire.
The site has operated as a multi-category retail outlet, offering newspapers, magazines, cards, confectionery, toys, and tobacco products, with additional office and residential space on the upper floor. Its sale reflects the broader pattern of generational change in independent retail, as long-standing family operators reassess their business commitments and succession plans.
Former owner Joe Rushton commented, “After 65 years as a family-run business, it feels like the right moment to pass things on. I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us over the years, it has meant the world to us. I would also like to wish Mohan and Nanthini all the very best for the future.”
Christie & Co oversaw the transaction, which completes the Rushton family’s exit from their high-street holdings while allowing them to focus on expanding their separate jigsaw enterprise. Andrew Birnie, Director – Retail at Christie & Co, who managed the sale, added, “Really pleased to get this sale across the line and worked in tandem with my colleague Steve Riley in our Leeds office. Stores like this in sought after villages in North Yorkshire rarely come to the market. This was snapped up quickly with lots of interest from buyers across the country.”
The buyers, Mr and Mrs Rasamohan, are experienced convenience store operators who plan to continue commercial activity on the site.
